Given the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), it is crucial to emphasize the importance of protecting and strengthening ICWA in light of the disproportionate representation of Native American children in the foster care system. The existing data reveals a stark reality where Native American children have a high chance of entering the child welfare system. Native American children are up to four times more likely to be removed from their families and placed into foster care when compared to their non-Native counterparts. Two percent of Native children are in foster care, even though they only make up 1% of the U.S. population. As a result, upholding ICWA is more critical than ever.
